Five Amrit pharmacies open in Haryana from today

Five AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) pharmacies will begin operations in Haryana from August 15, bringing quality medicines to the public at low cost. Additional chief secretary (health) Sumita Misra announced on Friday that the pharmacies will start at Fatehabad, Hansi, Sirsa, Charkhi Dadri and Hisar.

The pharmacies are part of a flagship initiative of the Union health ministry, implemented through HLL Lifecare Limited. A government spokesperson said the initiative aims to reduce patients' expenditure by making medicines, implants and surgical consumables available at discounts of up to 50% on the maximum retail price. The scheme particularly benefits patients with serious conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases, where costs can be a heavy burden.

Misra said affordable healthcare requires not just hospitals but also ensuring medicine costs do not stop treatment. The district-level rollout is expected to help ordinary families, senior citizens and those needing long-term medication. The pharmacies are being set up alongside Vita milk parlours in district civil hospitals, with sites identified across the state.